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I can’t believe the number of fillies only handicaps and maidens in the race cards in the last few weeks mostly and hardly surprisingly with small fields.This independence of race cards is just crazy and a large contributor to small fields. Another example is everybody scheduling amateur events or ladies races of the same day with obviously on a limited number of jocks to go around although personally I believe these type of events have no place in professional cards where we the paying public buy a ticket for 6 proper races not to have it littered up with amateurs.This sort of event belongs in point to point cards.
I can’t believe the number of fillies only handicaps and maidens in the race cards in the last few weeks mostly and hardly surprisingly with small fields.This independence of race cards is just crazy and a large contributor to small fields. Another example is everybody scheduling amateur events or ladies races of the same day with obviously on a limited number of jocks to go around although personally I believe these type of events have no place in professional cards where we the paying public buy a ticket for 6 proper races not to have it littered up with amateurs.This sort of event belongs in point to point cards.
Haven’t noticed the number of amateurs going up, so can’t comment on it but…
They are “proper races” Kentdougal, just not for professional jockeys. Although I never bet in such races, variety is one of the best things about British racing and don’t see why an amateur race should not be included on a normal card. We don’t need to bet in every race and there are some who prefer betting on amateurs.Value Is EverythingI can’t believe the number of fillies only handicaps and maidens in the race cards in the last few weeks mostly and hardly surprisingly with small fields.This independence of race cards is just crazy and a large contributor to small fields. quote]
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Half the thoroughbred foals born are female…given that they (as a group) are disadvantaged physically in comparison to colts & geldings what would you have the industry do but to facilitate a programme where they can race?
…personally I believe these type of events have no place in professional cards where we the paying public buy a ticket for 6 proper races not to have it littered up with amateurs.This sort of event belongs in point to point cards.
Speak for yourself. You start with your opinion and then drag the rest of us forcibly into it halfway through the sentence.
The programme is hardly overloaded with amateur contests and I don’t see why they shouldn’t be part of it.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>kentdougal wrote:</div>
…personally I believe these type of events have no place in professional cards where we the paying public buy a ticket for 6 proper races not to have it littered up with amateurs.This sort of event belongs in point to point cards.Speak for yourself. You start with your opinion and then drag the rest of us forcibly into it halfway through the sentence.
The programme is hardly overloaded with amateur contests and I don’t see why they shouldn’t be part of it.
Agree with your point about amateur races, but to be fair Rob, I think Kentdougal was just giving his opinion, not speaking for anyone else. We surely don’t need to put “I believe” in to every sentence.
Value Is EverythingHalf the thoroughbred foals born are female…given that they (as a group) are disadvantaged physically in comparison to colts & geldings what would you have the industry do but to facilitate a programme where they can race?
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Yes they might be born in equal numbers but not so many of them get to race and they are compensated with weight allowances to compete against their male counterparts. This really wasn’t my main point it’s that on the whole they are poorly supported and it would be a lot better for them not to be clashing by a more centralised fixture list which also help in other poorly supported areas.
My other point regarding amateur races is that the whole sport is run on an ad hoc manner with little regard to the paying public(either betting or attending) which is why it has to survive on bookmakers hand outs. You would not to pay to go to any other form of professional entertainment and find 16% of it supplied by amateursFrom tomorrow until August 2nd there are 17 races for amateurs on the flat. This equates to exactly one race every four days – over a wide variety of distances. Many are scheduled as the first race on the evening cards to allow the professionals to get to the course from their afternoon meeting. Similarly they often card apprentice races in the same slot.
There are plenty of filly only races to given opportunities, as has been said earlier, for the 50% of the horse population. Actually we don’t cater as much for fillies only races as, for example, in the States where there is a significantly far greater amount of fillies only Group races.
There is centralised race planning at BHA..
There is centralised race planning at BHA..
There is precious little evidence of it being effective if it actually exists
I don’t care how few amateur races there are 16% I quoted they have no place in a professional entertainment environment in spite of the diehards that are still in the 18th century[/quote]
You would not to pay to go to any other form of professional entertainment and find 16% of it supplied by amateurs[/quote]Here speaks a man that obviously didn’t attend the Stoke/Liverpool game last Sunday.
Personally I don’t see the problem with amateur riders races – the horses are professional, the trainers are professional and they provide the opportunity to spot future riding stars. First time I saw Ryan Moore ride was an amateur race at Goodwood in 2001 and his brother Jamie was also in that field.
I knew I was right about the increase in female only races Flat Stats have a function that easily checks these things and they have risen from 265 in 1991 to 481 in 2014 total races in 1991 was 3211 rising to 3979 in 2014 Female only races have increased from 8.25% to 11.33% of the total. I don’t quite understand this as the general support of them is poor and is certainly not helping field sizes.
I knew I was right about the increase in female only races Flat Stats have a function that easily checks these things and they have risen from 265 in 1991 to 481 in 2014 total races in 1991 was 3211 rising to 3979 in 2014 Female only races have increased from 8.25% to 11.33% of the total. I don’t quite understand this as the general support of them is poor and is certainly not helping field sizes.
Where is the evidence of “poor support” compared to other races? What is the average price of favourite and field size of fillies compared to colts?
Suspect they aren’t quite as competitive because there’s not as many real top class fillies. But when 50% of horses bred are female then 11.33% is surely not a large percentage?Breeders need to be encouraged.
Value Is Everything
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